Libby City Council considers archery ordinance
by Duane Williams, KLCB-KTNY Radio
June 20, 2010
Around 35 archery enthusiasts met with the City Council Ordinance Committee Thursday evening to discuss the City continuing to allow the use of bow and arrows within the City limits. As it stands now, it is currently legal to hunt within the city limits with bow and arrow during legal bow season. There are no restrictions on the use of bows and arrows. There are on other lethal weapons.
The City has been considering placing restrictions on the discharging of arrows in the City.
The consideration was the result of a wild turkey being shot with a bow and arrow in the city. The complaint originally came from a city resident who was feeding the turkeys in the neighborhood. It is legal, though not recommended, to feed wild turkeys, according to Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks. Someone shot one of the turkeys.
The City has been giving consideration to prohibiting the discharge of an arrow from a bow within the city limits except at an organized, established archery shooting range or gallery, and only in such manner as to not endanger persons, property, animals or birds, providing the arrow is prevented from leaving that established area.
Predictably, the archers are not in support of any ordinance that limits, bans, or restricts the use of archery equipment within the city. While initially suggesting banning hunting within the city limits, the archery group reversed their position. They claim that the Montana Code Annotated provides a means to address any persons who engage in unsafe behaviors within the city through statues of Criminal and Negligent Endangerment already in place. They further claim the state statute carries heavier penalties than would a city ordinance.
The Ordinance Committee indicated they will make the recommendation to the full City Council to prohibit hunting with bow and arrow within the city limits, but to allow other uses of bow and arrows within the city.
_____________________________
Story by Duane Williams, KLCB-KTNY Radio, www.todaysbestcountryonline.com, e-mail: klcb@frontiernet.net.
|
